Letters | Systemic failures

The Jeffrey Epstein scandal, spanning multiple countries, is sending shockwaves through the world’s most powerful institutions. Its impact is still unfolding, but the aftershocks are being felt across borders. The arrest and investigation of former British prince Andrew, duke of York, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, could become one of the gravest contemporary crises in Britain’s monarchy.

Attempts to frame it as a personal failing of the former duke are unlikely to persuade people. The British royal family and successive British governments now face urgent questions. What they knew and when, about Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Epstein.

Victim or survivor testimonies alleging sexual abuse and trafficking paint a deeply disturbing picture. Stripping titles or removing official roles cannot substitute for accountability or justice, nor undo decades in which victims say they were ignored. The arrest is also expected to rattle U.S.

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power circles, intensifying scrutiny of other Epstein linked figures and raising urgent questions about whether further accountability will follow amid widespread public distrust in institutions to protect the rule of law. Even as global headlines focus on potential conflicts, including Iran, the Epstein scandal demands attention. It is far more than a personal storm. It exposes systemic failures at the highest levels, underscoring the urgent need for accountability, transparency, responsibility and justice.

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